BRENNER, Philip (Joseph) 1946-

PERSONAL:

Born January 9, 1946, in New York, NY; Education: Columbia University, A.B., 1966; Johns Hopkins University, M.A., Ph.D., 1975.

ADDRESSES:

Office—School of International Service, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016-8071. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Trinity College, instructor in political science, 1973-75; University of Maryland, Baltimore County, assistant professor of political science, 1975; American University, professor of international relations, chair of Inter-Disciplinary Council on the Americas. Institute for Policy Studies, associate fellow, 1972—; National Security Archive, researcher and member of advisory board, 1985—, United States Congress, staff member; consultant to John F. Kennedy Library, member of editorial boards of several journals.

WRITINGS:

The Limits and Possibilities of Congress, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1983.

From Confrontation to Negotiation: U.S. Relations with Cuba, Westview Press (Boulder, CO), 1988.

(With James G. Blight) Sad and Luminous Days: Cuba's Struggle with the Superpowers after the Missile Crisis, Rowman and Littlefield (Lanham, MD), 2002.

EDITOR

(With Robert Borosage and Bethany Weidner) Exploring Contradictions: Political Economy in the Corporate State, David McKay Co. (New York, NY), 1974.

(With William M. LeoGrande, Donna Rich, and Daniel Siegel) The Cuba Reader: The Making of a Revolutionary Society, Grove Press (New York, NY), 1989.

SIDELIGHTS:

A professor of international relations at American University and a specialist in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America, Philip Brenner has researched U.S.-Cuban relations since 1974. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 has been a topic of primary interest for Brenner, and he has worked with the National Security Archive since 1986 to find and publicize documents surrounding it.

Brenner's first book on Cuba was From Confrontation to Negotiation: U.S. Relations with Cuba, part of a U.S. foreign policy studies series. Brenner discusses Cuban history since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 and maintains that the U.S. policy of isolating Cuba and rejecting Castro's regime has been harmful to both nations. U.S. covert warfare against Cuba, says Brenner, has harmed the U.S. image as a defender of international law and the sovereignty of nations. The book bears witness to Brenner's long-standing philosophy that the United States should take the initiative in normalizing relations with Cuba.

E. A. Duff, in a review of From Confrontation to Negotiation for Choice, found that Brenner's "relentlessly sympathetic view of Castro" detracted from the work. Abraham F. Lowenthal, in a review for Foreign Affairs, commented that while Brenner is convincing in his presentation of U.S. shortcomings in Cuban relations, he fails to address Cuba's motives and policies with the same critical eye. Therefore, his "hopeful suggestion for a 'sensible policy'" does not meet its goals. Jules R. Benjamin, in an article for American Historical Review, found the book "most appropriately judged as a policy proposal." He also stated that it was weak in the "discussion of the Cuban side of the equation, especially the decision-making processes and goals of the Cuban elite." However, noted Benjamin, "The book is still the best summary we have of the advantages of peaceful coexistence with Cuba." Louis A. Pérez, Jr., writing in the American Political Science Review, called the book a "welcome addition to the literature" and remarked that it promises "to provide the basis for continued discussion about the latest manifestation of … the 'Cuba question.'"

Brenner coedited The Cuba Reader: The Making of a Revolutionary Society, an anthology of fifty-six essays on Cuba, covering its history, economy, politics, foreign policy, and daily life and culture. Max Azicri, in a review for Christianity and Crisis, wrote that the editors "have shown great care in compiling this volume," approaching it with an "openness to a diversity of views." The longest section is that on foreign policy, which Azicri felt was completed in a "scholarly and comprehensive manner."

René Pérez-López, writing in Library Journal, found The Cuba Reader lacking in information about Castro's global policy of rectificación, or rectifying a move toward market-oriented socialism, but he still recommended the book as a "good choice" for readers interested in Cuba, Marxism/Leninism, and in revolution in general.

Brenner has coauthored, with James G. Blight, the book Sad and Luminous Days: Cuba's Struggle with the Superpowers after the Missile Crisis, published in 2002. Titled after a letter from activist Che Guevara to Fidel Castro in 1965, the book explores the missile crisis from a Cuban perspective and includes a lengthy speech about the crisis given by Castro to his leaders in 1968. Kathryn Schroeder, in an article for American University News, observed, "According to Brenner and Blight, the Cuban experience of the crisis … provides important lessons today for the way in which the United States deals with weaker adversaries."

The authors also introduce the possibility of improved relations between Cuba and the United States in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ed Goedeken of Library Journal found the book to be "an important counterpoint" to many other simplistic ones that will appear on the fortieth anniversary of the crisis.

Brenner's first volume as coeditor was Exploring Contradictions: Political Economy in the Corporate State, published in 1974. Inspired by seminars at the Institute for Policy Studies for Congressional Assistants, the book contains ten previously published essays on politics and economics in the United States. Topics include government and the private sector, multinational corporations, work and workers, and alternative organizations for the political economy.

The Limits and Possibilities of Congress grew out of Brenner's experience as a U.S. Congress staff member, as well as his research and education on the subject. He examines the public conception that members of Congress are self-serving, interested only in power and reelection, attempt to and serve only their home districts or special interests. Brenner uses three case studies to dispute these popular views and show that it is possible for congressmen to improve policy and serve the public interest, even though the potential is limited by the dominance of wealth over workers in the United States.

Steven A. Shull, writing in the American Political Science Review, found the book to be "unique but limited." Shull's major complaint was with Brenner's analysis. He noted "statements left uncited and uncomfirmed," a loose procedure for conducting interviews, unclear presentation of data, and flawed questions in polls. Shull concluded, "With its policy, reformist, and philosophical treatment of Congress, it does make a contribution in emphasizing that Congress must be looked at in the context of its larger environment, but Brenner has not done justice to that environment." James Nathan of the Journal of Politics, found Brenner's book "indispensable." He remarked, "It breaks new ground; argued with lucidity and grace, it is required reading for students of the American political process and foreign policy. Practitioners should also find it essential reading."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

American Historical Review, April, 1990, Jules R. Benjamin, review of From Confrontation to Negotiation: U.S. Relations with Cuba, pp. 603-604.

American Political Science Review, March, 1984, Steven A. Shull, review of The Limits and Possibilities of Congress, pp. 212-213; March, 1990, Louis A. Pérez, Jr., review of From Confrontation to Negotiation, pp. 364-366.

Choice, January, 1989, E. A. Duff, review of From Confrontation to Negotiation, p. 867.

Christianity and Crisis, September 25, 1989, Max Azicri, "Revolutionary Cuba at 30," pp. 294-295.

Foreign Affairs, fall, 1983, Gaddis Smith, review of The Limits and Possibilities of Congress, pp. 217-218; spring, 1988, Abraham F. Lowenthal, review of From Confrontation to Negotiation, p. 190.

Journal of Economic Literature, March, 1975, review of Exploring Contradictions: Political Economy in the Corporate State, p. 118.

Journal of Politics, February, 1984, James Nathan, review of The Limits and Possibilities of Congress, pp. 306-308.

Library Journal, December, 1988, René Pérez-López, review of The Cuba Reader, p. 117; October 15, 2002, Ed Goedeken, review of Sad and Luminous Days: Cuba's Struggle with the Superpowers after the Missile Crisis, p. 83.

ONLINE

American University News Online,http://domino.american.edu/ (September 16, 2002), Kathryn Schroeder, "Fidel Castro to Host Former American, Russian Officials to Discuss the 40th Anniversary of Cuban Missile Crisis, Oct. 11 & 12."

American University School of International Service Web site,http://www.american.edu/ (March 28, 2003), "Philip Brenner."

Watson Institute for International Studies Web site,http://www.watsoninstitute.org/ (February 12, 2003), "Philip Brenner."*